robinson



Feb. 24, 1931. L. A. ROBINSON CA N Filed March 18. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR LYNN fl. Roe/n50 BY ATTORNEY v Feb. 24, 1931. ROBINSON 1,793,636

CAN

Filed March 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i lZe i? 5 I lNVENTOR LYN/V 14. Pas/N50 ATTORN EY 30 the Patented Feb. 24, 1931.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE-Y LYNN A. ROBINSON, F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO RICHARD J. COOK, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON CAN Application filed March 18, 1929. Serial No. 347,909.

This invention relates to improvements in cans or containers, and refers particularly to cans of that character designed to be opened by the removal of an encircling portion of the can wall defined as the tearing strip, which is set off by two spaced lines of scoring usual- 1y disposed near the top end of the can body, the strip being removable by use of a key.

It is the principal object of this invention ,lo'to provide a can of the above character hav-' ing means disposed across the tearing strip area to retain the contents of the can when the tearing strip is removed, and to serve also to hold the closure portion in its assembled relation with res ect to the body after the tearing strip has een removed, and to provide this contents retaining means with a discharge recess, opening or openings adapted, by relative adjustment of the parts that are disconnected by removal of the tearing strip, to be adjusted to an uncovered or open position within the tearing strip area.

A further object of the invention is to so locate the discharge opening that it may be covered or uncovered 'by a portion of the closure, or by a portion of the body, by relative adjustment of these parts after removal of the tearing strip.

More specifically, the-invention resides in provided near the upper end with a tearing strip and having an annular closure element fitted within the body across the tearing strip area and fixed relative to the cover and hav ing sliding connection with the body to serve as a retainer for the can contents and also permitting of a relative rotative adjustment of the parts, after the tearing strip is re- 7 moved; said annular element being provided with an opening, or, if desired, a series of openings, for pouring out the contents from the can, normally covered by a lip extended from the body into the tearing strip area and adapted to be uncovered by relative rotative adjustment of the closure and the body parts. It is also an object to adapt the above arrangement to key openercans of the triple fold collar type as disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,615,930, issued on the 1st day of February. 1927, to W. E. Burns.

- in the accompanying drawings,

provision of a can of the above character,

Other objects of the invention reside in the details of construction of the various parts, in their cooperative relation and in the method of using the cans.

In accomplishing these objects, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a can embodying features of construction in accordance with the present invention. I

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the upper end portion of the can, showing the tearing strip removed therefrom.

igure 3 is a perspective view, showing the discharge opening adjusted from beneath the lip to a position within the tearing strip area.

igure 4 is a vertical, sectional view through the upper end portion of the can, illustrating the relation of the collar within the can to the tearingbtrip.

Figure 5 is a side view of a part of a can bod with parts in section, and illustrating an alternative construction.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of an alterna tive construction in which the collar is integral with the cover.

Figure 7 is a view illustrating an adaptation of the present invention to a can of the tripple fold collar type.

igure 8 is a View of the can with the tearing strip removed and the discharge opening uncovered.

Figure 9 is a cross sectional, detail of the same.

Figure 10 is a side view, partly in section of a modification of the construction.

Figure 11 illustrates another form of construction. i

Referring more in detail to the drawings 1 designates a can body provided near its upper end with an encircling tearing strip 2, set off by two spaced lines of scoring 3 and 4. The tearing strip starts at the vertical body seam 5 in a loose tongue 6 to which a key, as at 7 tor the removal of the strip may be applied, and, at the opposite end, the strip terminates in a relatively narrow portion, designated at 2a, which is formed by directing the lower score line in a gradually inclined manner, as at 4a, to a point closely adj acent the upper score line and then continuing parallel with the latter to the body seam. By so upwardly offsetting the lower score line, the removal of the tearing strip will provide a lip, or extension, 8 integral with and continuing. from the upper edge of the body portion and projecting into and almost across the tearing strip area, which may be defined asithe area of the can wall that lies between the two parallel planes of the score lines 3 and 4. The length of the lip 8 in a. direction circulnfcrentially of the body may be Whatever is necessary to cover the discharge opening, or openings, presently to be described.

Fitted within the upper end of the body in such manner that it may be rotatably adjusted therein, is a can content retaining element in the form of a collar or sleeve 10. This element, as shown in Figure 4, extends slightly below the tearing strip area and is attached about its upper edge, in any suitable manner, to the top end, or closure portion 12 of the container. The end, or cover, in the present instance is seamed onto the upper end of the body, as at 13, in the usual manner. Preferably, the upper edge of the collar would be gripped within the seam, as illustrated in Figure 4, but need not extend any farther into the seam than is necessary to insure a good connection whereby it may be rotated within the body by gripping and turning the end portion after it has been detached from the body by removal of the tearing strip.

The closure and body parts of the container are held in assembled relation after the removal of the tearing strip, by the collar 10 which has an outwardly formed bead 15 about its lower edge portion, that is fitted slidably within a similar, outwardly formed bead 16 in the body wall just below the tearing strip. These beads, 15 and 16, are so formed as to provide a sliding joint and may extend entirely about the body, or, in the event that it should be desired to provide for complete removal of the closure from the body, the body would be provided with two or more beads of limited extent, as shown in dotted lines at 16' in Figure 4, and the collar likewise would be provided with protuberances or short beads, as at 15, to seat therein but which, by rotative adjustment of the parts, may be disengaged from the body beads to release the closure to permit its being drawn outwardly from the body; this connection being in the nature of a bayonet slot connection.

Formed in the collar 10 at a point that is directly beneath the lip 8 before the parts have been disconnected by removal of the tearing strip, is an opening 20 through which the contents of the can may be poured out when the opening is uncovered. This opening is designed to be uncovered by relative rotative adjustment of the closure and body portions; it being apparent that, since the collar 10 is attached to the end 12 rotation of the latter relative to the body will likewise rotate the collar and thereby expose the opening from beneath the lip within the tearing strip area. Likewise, the opening may be covered by a readjustment of the parts.

While I have described the collar 10 as being attached to the cover 12 or end portion, and rotatably adjustable in the body, the arrangement could, if desired, be reversed and the collar fixed about its lower edge within the body in any suitable manner and slidably attached to the closure in any suitable manner, which maybe as illustrated in Figure 5; wherein the collar has a bead 25 aboutits upper edge and this is slidably contained within a bead or groove 27 formed in the body closely beneath the end seam 13. The score lines 3 and 4 defining the tearing strip in this construction would be disposed between the bead 27 and the line of attachment of the lower portion of the collar to the body and would be. so formed that the lip 8 would extend downwardly from the cover, or end portion, instead of from the body' and would overlap the outlet 20 as in the construction of Figure 2.

In Figure 6 is shown an alternative construction in which the end or cover 12 is formed with a downwardly drawn, annular flange, or collar 30, fitted within the body and extended beyond the tearing strip where it has a beaded connection with the body, permitting of rotative movement of the cover after the strip is removed from the body. This flange 30 is recessed or apertured, as at 31, to provide an outlet which serves the same purpose as outlet 20 of the previously described forms; this outlet 31 being adapted to be covered or uncovered by the lip 8 by that relative rotative adjustment of the parts permittedby removal of the tearing strip.

Cans of this latter character also are so 0011- structed that, should it be desired, the closure portions may be entirely removed from the body. To permit this, the beads provided to normally retain the parts in assembled relation are made rather shallow and the natural yieldability of the parts permits them to be drawn apart. This yieldability also permits of placing the closure back in the body.

In Figures 7, 8 and 9 is illustrated the adaptation of the present invention to cans of the tripple fold collar type wherein the tearing strip 2 is formed in the outer fold 35 and the inner folds serve to retain the can contents after the strip is torn out.

In this construction, the body blank,before being folded is provided with an opening at a point across which the first or inner fold is made and which provides an outlet, or passage, as at 36, directly underlying the tearing strip area of the outer fold. When the tearing strip is removed, this outlet 36 is exposed. Normally, it is covered by an annular, downwardly drawn flange 37 formed with the cover or closure member 120 which, at one point, is upwardly recessed to provide a passage 38 which, by relative rotative adjustment of the closure and body parts, may be inovejd into and from registration without- To permit increasing the size of the discharge opening thus provided, the cover may be drawn outwardly a limited distance thus adding the area of passage 38 to passage 36. The closure is yieldably retained against displacement from the body by a slight, outwardly formed head 40 about its lower edge and an engaging bead 41 about the inner side pfhtihe top edge of the body adjacent the first Fig. 10 illustrates a can of the tripple fold character in which the fold is provided beneath the tearing strip with a passage 36 and this is designed to be covered by a lip 8 depending from the cover portion into the tearing strip area and formed by tearing out the tearing strip. I

In Fig. 11 is still another arrangement which may correspond to that of Fig. 3 or Fig. 5, wherein the collar has a spiral, threaded connection with the body, provided by forming spirally directed grooves on the body and protuberances 51 on slide within the grooves. After removal of the tearing strip 2, rotative adjustment of the cover exposes the discharge opening 52 to a greater or less height dependent on the disthe collar 10 that tance through which it is rotated- This arrangement may be used with or without the body.

lip. If the lip is not used, the opening 52 would be so located as to not be exposed at the time the strip is removed but immediately upon upward rotative adjustment.

Assuming that cans are so constructed: In opening the same, a' key is applied to the tongue of the tearing strip and the latter Wound on the key and thereby torn from the Removal of the tearing strip (except in cans as of Figs.-7-89), leaves-the lip 8 extended into the tearing strip area across the discharge opening 20 in the collar portion 10. Then, relative rotative adjustment of the parts exposes the opening 20' within the tearing strip area. ing 20 may again be covered by readjustment of the parts whereby the opening is brought back beneath the lip. It is readily apparent that the opening 20 may be made of considerable length and its height may be substantially the distance which the lip extends into the tearing strip area. The collar-10 serves, not only to prevent spilling the contents of the can after the tearing strip is removed, but also holds the closure and body parts in assembled relation after removal of the strip.

The construction of 1y that of Figure 4, except the annular closure element 30 of this device, which'corresponds If it is so desired, theopen- Figure 6 is substantiaL' to collar 10 in the other, is" an integral part of the end.

The constructions of Figures 7, -8, 9 and 10 likewise are the same in principle as those of Figures 4, 5 and 6, but illustrate the adaptation of this principle to cans of, the tripple fold collar type.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. A can comprising a tearing strip, a contents retaining element disposed Within the can across thetearing strip and having a discharge opening therein adjustable into and from the tearing strip area.

2. A can comprising a body including .a tfiallfilg strip, a closure member fitted within t e and body parts after removal'of the tearing .strip.

4.. A can comprising a body portion, a closure portion secured thereto, a tearing strip removable from the body to detach the closure, 'an extension from the closure fitted within the body across the tearing strip and having a discharge opening therein adapted and,closure parts in assembled relation after ody and extending across the tearing strip and serving to hold the can parts ad-.

an annular element'fitted to be exposed within the tearing strip area removal of the strip but'permitting relative rotative adjustment thereof; said collar having an opening therein movable by rotative adjustment of the parts between covered and uncovered positions within ,the tearing strip area.

6. In a can comprising parts adapted to be detached one from the other by removal of a tearing strip, a connecting element fitted within the can across the tearing strip and having fixed relation to one of said parts and a slidable connection with the other part, and having a discharge opening therein within the tearing strip area and alip extended into the tearing strip area from that vpart not having fixed connection with the connecting element, and adapted to be adjusted from and over the said discharge opening.

7. A can comprising a body portion, a closure secured thereto, a tearing strip removable from the body ,to detach the closure, a collar fitted within the body across thetearing strip and fixed at its upper end to the closure and having a rotatably slidable connection with the body below thetea ring strip said collar serving to retain contents of the can after removal of the strip and having a discharge opening therein disposed within the tearing strip area, said body having a lip extended into the tearing strip and adapted to overlie said opening of the collar as a closure therefor.

8. In a can, a body, a closure secured thereto, a tearing strip in the body removable to detach the closure, a collar rotatably fitted in the body across the tearing strip and fixed to the closure; said body having a bead formed therein below the tearing strip and said collar having a bead fitted to the body bead to retain the collar rotatably within the body; said collar having an opening disposed within the tearing strip area and said body having a lip, formed by removal of the tearing strip, extended into the tearing strip areag as a closure for said opening.

9. A can comprising a body part, a closure part secured thereto, a tearing strip encircling the body and removable to detach the closure, a collar fitted in the body' across the tearing strip having a fixed connection with one of said parts and a rotatably slidable connection with the other and having a passage therein registering with the tearing strip area, a lip formed on one of said parts by removal of the tearing strip and extended into the tearing strip area as a closure for said passage and from and over which it may be adjusted by relative rotative adjustment of the parts.

10. A can comprising a body including an encircling tearing strip, a closure secured to the body and detachable by removal of the strip, a collar extending from the closure and rotatably fitted within the body across the tearing strip; said collar having an opening therein registering with the tearing strip area. a lip extending from the body and within the tearing strip area as a closure for said opening and adjustable from and across the latter by relative rotative adjustment of the parts that are disconnected by removal of the tearing strip: said collar having a fixed connection with the closure part and a connection with the body which permits rotative adjustment therein and removal when adjusted to a certain relationship.

11. A can comprising a body, an end seamed thereto, a tearing strip encircling the body and removable to detach the end; said end having a downwardly pressed annular body and detachable, by removal of the tearing strip, said band having an opening formed through the inner folds to be uncovered by removal of the tearing strip and said cover including a depending, annular ,fiange fitted. within the fold across the said opening and having a recess adjustable into registration with said opening by relative adjustment of the cover and body parts.

13. .A can comprising a body formed with a band of multiple thickness aboutits upper.

end, with a tearing strip formed within the outer thickness, a cover seamed onto the body -and detachable by removal of the tearing strip; said band having a recess through the top edges of the inner folds adapted to be uncovered by removal of the tearing strip; said cover including a depending, annular flange fitted within the fold across the said recess and also having a recess therein adjustable into and from registration with the fold recess by rotative ustment of the parts; said annular flange of the cover also having telescopic adjustment with respect to the body as a means of increasing the area of the passage provided by bringing the recesses into registration.

14. A can comprising a body including an encircling tearing strip, a contents retaining member fixed inside the body across the tearing strip area and having-a discharge recess in its top edge, an end seamed onto the body and havlng an annular flange extendingdownwardly within said contents retaining member and having a recess in its lower portion adapted to be adjusted by rotative movement of the end into registration with said discharge recess to provide an outlet for the cans contents; said end and body being relatively adjustable in an axialdirection to further, increase the area of the outlet.

15. A can comprising a body part, a closure part secured thereto, a tearing strip encircling the body and removable to detach the closure part, a collar or the like fitted within the body across'the tearing strip area and having fixed connection with one of said parts, and a spiral, threaded connection with the other part whereby 'relative rotative adjustment of the parts effects relative movement inan axial direction; said collar having exposed within the tearing strip area to a a discharge opening therein adapted to be ing strip area.

I more or less height by the axial adjustment of'the parts.

16. A can comprising a body part, a closure part secured thereto, a tearing strip encircling the body and removable to detach the closure part, a collar or the like fitted Within the body across the tearing strip area and having fixed connection with one of said parts and a spiral, threaded connection with theother part whereby relative rotative adjustment of theparts eliects relative movement in an axial direction; said collar having a discharge opening therein across and above the tearing strip area and a lip extending into the tearing strip area from that part of the can not fixed to the collar and adapted for adjustment from and across the discharge opening; said opening being adapted to be uncovered to a more or less height by axial adjustment of the parts as efi'ected through their spirally threaded connection. 1

17. A can as in claim 15, wherein means is provided for-yieldably retaining the parts against complete disconnection and which permits of a replacement of the cover after disconnection.

18. A can comprising parts joined by a tearing strip and rendered relatively movable by removal of the strip, a contents retaining element across the tearing strip area having an opening movable by relative adj ustment of the parts into and from the tear- Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 26th day of February, 1929.

LYNN A. ROBINSON. 

